Nh - The Launch Thread, Godspeed little one Options

[djellison]

I thought it was time, with the Atlas V about to roll out - for a new thread for NH for the launch etc.

Someone asked over at the HZ just how NH can go so fast, this was my reply....

How do you get a spacecraft to Jupiter in under a year? Easy. Make it very very light, and put it on a very very big rocket. The config of Atlas V rocket being used to launch NH (551 - 5m fairing, 5 solids, and one engine on the Centaur stage ) would typically put 8,670kg into GTO or 20,520 into LEO.
New Horizons is 478kg, and it's Star 48B 3rd stage is 2,137kg - so instead of hauling 20 tons, this vehicle is hauling about 2.5 tons thus you get a HUGE velocity out of it. AND, once it's done that, you have the final kick of the 48B, 591 thousand kgs-s (thus accelerating is all a further 3.5 - 4km/s ball park speed, if my maths is right)
At launch - the vehicle is 573,160kg. NH is 0.083% of it.
Imagine the Apollo entry capsule on top of a Saturn V...tiny tiny tiny... that was 5,800 kg on a 3,038,500kg rocket - 0.191% - more than double that percentage of NH. The cutaway's are almost comical, with this tiny gold-clad box on an enormous vehicle.
Basically - it's a LOT of rocket, and not a lot of payload.
For comparison, look how much fuss was made of Stardust that entered so quickly. It took >16 hrs to get from the distance of the moon to Utah. NH makes that journey in 9 hours
One thing the NH mission is not short of, is superlatives.

I'm not one for good luck charms (although I'll eat peanuts during a Martian EDL with the best of them), but this mission has been so long in coming, that it deserves every ounce of luck it can have - the best, most accurate launch possible, the cleanest checkout, and incident free cruise to Jupiter.

Goodluck and Godspeed little one, we're with you every step of the way.

Doug
PS - Alan, you're a credit to your field, spending so much time answering questions and writing the PI Perspectives, it's been a hell of a journey!

[Toma B]

Atlas-5 with New Horizons is moving toward launch pad!!!

[imran]

Yes, Godspeed indeed. The launch will be spectacular and although I will be working tomorrow, I plan on coming home for lunch and watching the coverage live on my 56-inch HDTV. Hopefully the weather cooperates and we have a launch tomorrow. Good luck to the NH team!

[Toma B]

On the way!!!

[helvick]

On the way!!!

Hey she's scooting along at a good 4-5mph now.

[Toma B]

Rocket is in place....Yippeee!!!

[Guest_Myran_*]

4-5 mph helvick? That was a humble start. Now its on the pad it will be a lot more soon. Even though New Horizon wont beat the Voyagers in the end.
Good luck little probe, I hope they did check your optics and fuel tank properly.

[ljk4-1]

01.12.06

J.D. Harrington
Headquarters, Washington
Phone: (202) 358-5241

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
Phone: (321) 867-2468

STATUS REPORT: ELV-011206

EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE STATUS REPORT

MISSION: New Horizons
LAUNCH VEHICLE: Lockheed Martin Atlas V 551 (AV-010)
LAUNCH PAD: Complex 41
LAUNCH SITE: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
LAUNCH DATE: Jan. 17, 2006
LAUNCH WINDOW: 1:24 p.m. - 3:23 p.m.

The Flight Readiness Review was successfully completed today at the
Kennedy Space Center. The launch of New Horizons remains scheduled
for Jan. 17. The White House Office of Science Technology Policy has
also given approval for the launch to proceed.

Final spacecraft closeouts are under way and will conclude Friday,
Jan. 13. The payload test team will be conducting spacecraft
electrical tests on Saturday, Jan. 14, and the fairing access doors
will be closed for flight.

Rollout of the Atlas V from the Vertical Integration Facility is
scheduled to occur at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 16. That afternoon,
the storable RP-1 fuel will be loaded aboard the Atlas first stage
tank.

On Tuesday, Jan. 17, at 10:39 a.m., Pad 41 will be cleared of
personnel in preparation for cryogenic fueling operations which are
scheduled to begin at L-2 hours, or 11:24 a.m.

[odave]

That's quite an inspiring sight. Wunderground's forecast for the cape tomorrow is "partly sunny. Breezy. Highs in the upper 70s. South winds 15 to 20 mph."

Since my company don't 'low no streamin', I think a late-lunch trip to the library is in order...

[Guest_Analyst_*]

Goodluck and sunny weather tomorrow. It's been a long road and still so many miles to go.

Btw, it's the very same launch pad both Voyager's used 1977 (and both Viking's did in 1975).

I will be watching, NASA TV online and hopefully one German TV channel will broadcast the launch. It's 7:24 pm CET, right after work.

Analyst

[Toma B]

It is now exactly T-24 hours until liftoff………..if everything goes as planed at first possible opportunity.
God luck & sunny weather !!!

[elakdawalla]

I'm checking out the really wonderful Expendable Launch Vehicle Countdown Portal at KSC's website, and there's a lot of info there, but I'm finding it confusing. Can someone help straighten me out?

- First of all, the clock showing GMT and EST time shows 18:00 GMT when my own clock shows 10:41 (PST). So it appears that on my machine at least the applet appears to be running behind by 41 minutes. Does anybody else see a similar delay, or is the clock on the display synchronized to yours?

- Second, the "Window opening time" is listed as 016:17:25:00, which I think is a ddd:hh:mm:ss display. But if that's the case, that refers to a time that passed about an hour ago, and I don't think NH has launched yet Am I reading this wrong or is the applet messed up and does anybody else see the same thing?

--Emily

[punkboi]

Btw, it's the very same launch pad both Voyager's used 1977 (and both Viking's did in 1975).

Didn't Cassini launch from there as well? Or was that Complex 40?

I'm checking out the really wonderful Expendable Launch Vehicle Countdown Portal at KSC's website, and there's a lot of info there, but I'm finding it confusing.  Can someone help straighten me out?

- First of all, the clock showing GMT and EST time shows 18:00 GMT when my own clock shows 10:41 (PST).  So it appears that on my machine at least the applet appears to be running behind by 41 minutes.  Does anybody else see a similar delay, or is the clock on the display synchronized to yours?

- Second, the "Window opening time" is listed as 016:17:25:00, which I think is a ddd:hh:mm:ss display.  But if that's the case, that refers to a time that passed about an hour ago, and I don't think NH has launched yet   Am I reading this wrong or is the applet messed up and does anybody else see the same thing?

--Emily

The only countdown clock I follow is the one on the JHU website...since it's much simpler

[imran]

Check Spaceflight Now for latest mission updates.

http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av010/status.html

1830 GMT (1:30 p.m. EST):
Weather forecasters are still predicting an 80 percent chance of favorable conditions for tomorrow's launch.

[Toma B]

NEW IMAGES at Spaceflightnow.com

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av010/...t/rollout1.html

Isn't she a beauty?

[imran]

NEW IMAGES at Spaceflightnow.com    

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av010/...t/rollout1.html

Awesome pictures! The weather looks perfect for launch. Let's hope it stays this way for the next 24 hours.

[Toma B]

Am I seeing Carolin Porco (...Cassini...) with New Horizon in background?
I didn't know she's involved...is this her?

[ToSeek]

Am I seeing Carolin Porco (...Cassini...) with New Horizon in background?
I didn't know she's involved...is this her?

I don't know for sure if it's her, but she's one of the imaging scientists on New Horizons, so it's a definite possibility.

[odave]

Awesome pictures! 

BPCooper's on the job - nice shots, Ben!

[Toma B]

The "go" has been given to the launch team for fueling the Atlas rocket's first stage...
T-22h 26m

[Guest_Sunspot_*]

I'm almost too nervous to watch these launches now. I can't imagine how it must feel when you've spent a good part of your life working on the project, I think i'd be a jibbering wreck

[djellison]

That's CP.

Doug

[Toma B]

...and finally HI-RES pictures at KSC...
New Horizons
My god...this is going to be AWESOME!!!

[punkboi]

I'm almost too nervous to watch these launches now.  I can't imagine how it must feel when you've spent a good part of your life working on the project, I think i'd be a jibbering wreck 

I won't be able to watch the launch anyway...since I'll be at work.

[yaohua2000]

Predict trajectory:

http://iota.jhuapl.edu/nh116.htm

Observe New Horizons Jan. 17 - best Asia & Australia

[punkboi]

"The first stage fuel tank is now about half full. The kerosene is being pumped from a launch pad storage tank into the base of the Atlas 5 rocket."

[nprev]

...and finally HI-RES pictures at KSC...
New Horizons
My god...this is going to be AWESOME!!!    

SERIOUS stackage there....more power!!!! (grunt, grunt!)


And, since I'll be on an airplane tomorrow at launch time, dammit....GOOD LUCK AND GODSPEED, NEW HORIZONS!!!!

[deglr6328]

dumb ? time. Why is the first stage copper clad?

[djellison]

I think it just LOOKS like it's copper clad. iirc

Doug

[mcaplinger]

I think it just LOOKS like it's copper clad. iirc

Right. I believe this is the chromate conversion coating (aka "alodine" or "chem-film") on the aluminum structure of the first stage. The white on the Centaur is from the cryogenic insulation.

[helvick]

I think it just LOOKS like it's copper clad. iirc

You must be right, copper is far too dense and weak, but it really looks awfully like a a large welded copper tank. An aluminium\copper alloy ?

Looks lovely I must say, a proper hunk of metal.

[mchan]

How do you get a spacecraft to Jupiter in under a year?

A bit of editorial stretch there.

[djellison]

That was the actual line I quoted from the previous poster - I know, you know, and we all know it's 13 months


Right





I'll admit it - when I saw that pic, I thought "Hell - that's a hot water tank"

Doug

[Airbag]

dumb ? time.  Why is the first stage copper clad?

Probably an alumin(i)um/lithium alloy.

Airbag

[MahFL]

The first stage tank is Copper Anodised Aluminium.

" Anodising successfully combines science with nature to create one of nature's best metal finishes.

It is an electrochemical process that thickens and toughens the naturally occurring protective oxide. The resulting finish, depending on the process, is the second hardest substance known to man, second only to diamond"

[mchan]

The first stage tank is Copper Anodised Aluminium.

" Anodising successfully combines science with nature to create one of nature's best metal finishes.

It is an electrochemical process that thickens and toughens the naturally occurring protective oxide. The resulting finish, depending on the process, is the second hardest substance known to man, second only to diamond"

"Copper" anodized aluminum? I understand the anodizing process leaves a bonded coating of aluminum oxide. Is copper used as a descriptive adjective here, or is there actually copper involved?

[mcaplinger]

"Copper" anodized aluminum?  I understand the anodizing process leaves a bonded coating of aluminum oxide.  Is copper used as a descriptive adjective here, or is there actually copper involved?

You can add dyes during the anodizing process and get most any color you like, but as I said before, I think it's more likely that the booster is chromate-conversion coated, because that would leave you with a natural golden-coppery color. But I couldn't find any confirmation in the Atlas documents I looked at. I can say for sure they didn't make the stage out of any AlBe or AlLi alloy, though.

[mars loon]

To Pluto and BEYOND !!!

at last !!!!



and for those who missed it, The Science Channel Documentary on sunday night was quite enjoyable and there are a few more repeats. Here is a brief summary from my other thread.

----------------------------------------------------

The Discovery Science Channel is showing a documentary on the New Horizons mission which premieres on Sunday, Jan 15 at 9PM

check this link:

http://science.discovery.com/tvlistings/ep...d=0&channel=SCI

Synopsis:

Passport to Pluto

NASA's New Horizons mission is exploring the "new frontier" of the outer reaches of our solar system, solving the mysteries of Pluto and beyond. Meet the scientists who have waited their whole lives for this mission and see what surprises they'll reveal

[Tesheiner]

Here is NH on top of the booster.
Good luck!



(Hope I did my math correctly...)

[edstrick]

Uh....

Would somebody explain to me how they have 3 solid rocket strapons on one side of the booster and 2 on the other side.. and not have the launch vehicle go "TILT" during flight?.. I think they're firing all 5 at the same time... I'd assumed a evenly spaced "star" pattern for the strapons, but they don't have'm that way.

[MahFL]

This link has some good info on the Atlas. I may have misquoted about the copper...

"The Atlas common core is made out of aluminum with an anodizing process for protection which gives it its characteristic bronze color."

http://www.interspacenews.com/sections/fea...nch_vehicle.htm

[djellison]

Uh....

Would somebody explain to me how they have 3 solid rocket strapons on one side of the booster and 2 on the other side.. and not have the launch vehicle go "TILT" during flight?.. I think they're firing all 5 at the same time...  I'd assumed a evenly spaced "star" pattern for the strapons, but they don't have'm that way.

I thought that - but they could have angled nozzles on the solids to put the thrust direction in such a way whereby it all cancels out, and/or use the RD180 to compensate.

If you were to roll 180 degrees, you could use the thrust of the SRB's to pitch over

Doug

[ugordan]

Would somebody explain to me how they have 3 solid rocket strapons on one side of the booster and 2 on the other side.. and not have the launch vehicle go "TILT" during flight?.. I think they're firing all 5 at the same time...  I'd assumed a evenly spaced "star" pattern for the strapons, but they don't have'm that way.

It's because every booster's thrust vector is aligned to go through the center of mass of the vehicle. That way no rolling torque is induced, only sideways translation at worst (if one of the boosters under/overperforms or something, inducing translation, which can probably be perfectly well compensated for by the main engine gibals). A similar situation is present with the space shuttle, once the SRBs jettison, the 3 SSMEs need to gimbal to adjust the thrust through the new center of mass.

[Bill Harris]

Good cut-away image, Tesheiner. That puts the spacecraft size into perspective.

Still, it seems to me that the thrust vectors from two boosters would add up to be different than three boosters and the thrust would be uneven. But, heck, I'm just a geologist and they know what they're doing, so I won't fret about it.

I saw Alan Stern on NBC news this morning, in an interview about NH. Just before the nuclear protesters...

--Bill

[ugordan]

The thrust vectors do add up differently, but as long as they go through the center of mass, no torque is exerted.

Seems like the weather report is steadily becoming less and less favorable. Currently the conditions are "mostly cloudy" (degraded from "partly cloudy") and the wind is picking up, currently at 15 km/h.

What exactly are the launch constraints concerning the wind speed?

[Toma B]

What exactly are the launch constraints concerning the wind speed?

The Atlas 5's wind limit at launch is 33 knots...that's approx. 61 km/h.

1knot=1.852 kilometers per hour

[punkboi]

The Atlas 5's wind limit at launch is 33 knots...that's approx. 61 km/h.

1knot=1.852 kilometers per hour

Err, what's that in miles?

[djellison]

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&hs=iE...+in+mph&spell=1

Google is quite powerfull

Doug

[ugordan]

Err, what's that in miles?

It's sad enough you still stick with the imperial system, expecting someone else will convert the figures for you is just rude!

[ugordan]

Google is quite powerfull

Yeah, but Atlas V 551 is even more so!

[chris]

I may or may not be able to watch the launch live (depends on work pressures), but I would just like to add my sincerest wishes for a successful launch.

Good luck!

Chris

[Toma B]

There is some obvious weather change today at KSC...
Look at these webcam images...

[odave]

Google is quite powerfull

Wow - even furlongs per fortnight

I'm impressed

[Toma B]

Spaceflightnow.com
1445 GMT (9:45 a.m. EST)
NASA is not reporting any technical issues as the countdown continues.

Thats god news!!!

[yaohua2000]

Who knows any NASA TV mirrors, I can only get 34Kbps live real streaming and the Yahoo! mirror doesn't work on my Mac.

[chris]

Who knows any NASA TV mirrors, I can only get 34Kbps live real streaming and the Yahoo! mirror doesn't work on my Mac.

I am using the realplayer link from here on my Mac, and it works fine.

(And yes, I use a Mac at work. Lucky me )

Chris

[AstronomíaOnline...]

I'm following Mike Griffin's New Horizons Press Briefing on NASA TV, and EVERY DAMN QUESTION has to do with the Space Shuttle... do journalists realize how stupid they sound not asking a single question about the real reason that briefing was called??

[ugordan]

Who knows any NASA TV mirrors, I can only get 34Kbps live real streaming and the Yahoo! mirror doesn't work on my Mac.

Check to see if your connection speed is set correctly in Real Player. It's been a while since I've used RP, but there ought to be a setting on whether you're broadband or 56k dialup. The latter won't give you more than 48 kbps, imho, even if your connection is capable.

Speaking of live streams, is there a way to record the feed to your computer on the fly? I've had success with on-demand webcasts, but no luck with live feeds.
I'd really like a copy of the launch webcast as I don't want to depend on the NH site posting an archived and shortened launch feed...

[djellison]

I'm following Mike Griffin's New Horizons Press Briefing on NASA TV, and EVERY DAMN QUESTION has to do with the Space Shuttle... do journalists realize how stupid they sound not asking a single question about the real reason that briefing was called??     

Kudos to Bill Hardwood who said "I'm going to ask a question about New Horizons seing as no one else has"

Doug

[Toma B]

When will they start pumping LOX and LH into rocket?

[ugordan]

When will they start pumping LOX and LH into rocket?

IIRC, first stage LOX loading begins at T-75 minutes. I have no idea when Centaur fueling begins, LH2 probably gets fueled last, though.

[helvick]

Kudos to Bill Hardwood who said "I'm going to ask a question about New Horizons seing as no one else has"

Doug

There was one other question (Would NH be turned off post encounter if it had been a success at Pluto) I missed who asked it though.

I was very disappointed with the seemingly endless "What about the Shuttle?" questions. Seems like most of the folks there didn't care about NH, next time we should ask to have a UMSF rep to ensure that there are more relevant questions.

[ljk4-1]

There was one other question (Would NH be turned off post encounter if it had been a success at Pluto) I missed who asked it though.

I was very disappointed with the seemingly endless "What about the Shuttle?" questions.  Seems like most of the folks there didn't care about NH, next time we should ask to have a UMSF rep to ensure that there are more relevant questions.

Don't dump on the media too much - they are simply reflecting what the general public does and does not know about space exploration and where their interests do lie on the subject. It's up to NASA and the space community to make a better effort to educate the public and media about what is going on.

I guarantee you most people don't even have a clue right now until they see the evening news that a probe is about to be launched to Pluto. And what do they know about Pluto - well, it's either Mickey's dog or a place that's really far away, and oh yeah, it's pretty cold.

Maybe the space agencies and astronomers should ask the public more often what they want to see done with space exploration. Dan Goldin did that in the late 1990s on an informal basis, and he was very disappointed when he couldn't find anyone who wanted to know or see anything done about the International Space Station. They wanted NASA to put humans on Mars and find alien life.

[BPCooper]

NEW IMAGES at Spaceflightnow.com    

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av010/...t/rollout1.html

Isn't she a beauty?

Thanks. At the launch site now, cameras at the pad ready to go. Beautiful weather.

Go Atlas, Go Centaur, Go New Horizons!

[Toma B]

Go Atlas, Go Centaur, Go New Horizons!

You forgot "Go Star48B!"...

[djellison]

Good luck to you as well Ben - we're counting on your for the picture's we'll put on our walls of this one

Doug

[Toma B]

Spaceflight Now.com
1607 GMT (11:07 a.m. EST)
Winds at the pad have gusted up to 29 knots. The limit is 33 knots at launch time.
Not so good news...

[helvick]

Spaceflight Now.com
1607 GMT (11:07 a.m. EST)
Winds at the pad have gusted up to 29 knots. The limit is 33 knots at launch time.
Not so good news...

The clouds in the NASA TV feed are zipping along at a noticable clip but there doesn't seem to be any indication of worry from the NASA side ATM.

[ugordan]

Ok, there are obviously some serious problems with the streaming videos. I get constant "buffering" on both WMV and RM streams.
Looks like major network congestion... grrrrr!

And I was really looking forward to watching this live

[helvick]

Ok, there are obviously some serious problems with the streaming videos. I get constant "buffering" on both WMV and RM streams.
Looks like major network congestion... grrrrr!

And I was really looking forward to watching this live 

I've been getting a good rm feed for the past hour or so, no bufferring issues. Just switched to WMV, better audio and video quality. No connection issues from this side of the atlantic.

[ugordan]

No connection issues from this side of the atlantic.

It figures. I'll remember this when someone starts to complain about poor webcast quality of ESA press conferences...

[Toma B]

Cryogenic oxidizer is being filled into Centaur and First stage now...

[MahFL]

Cryogenic oxidizer is being filled into Centaur and First stage now...

You mean liquid Oxygen, right ? lol.

[Jeff7]

You mean liquid Oxygen, right ? lol.

Well oxygen oxidizes, right?
Or does it reduce? I never could keep oxidation/reduction straight....

[odave]

And I was really looking forward to watching this live 

Don't feel bad - someone scheduled a meeting at 2:00pm EST, so my late lunch trip to the library is out. No streaming allowed in the building, so it's text-based launch observing for me. I knew I should have marked that that time in Outlook as "unavailable".

[JRehling]

Little table of when each world got its first launch:

Moon 1959
Venus 1962
Mars 1964
Jupiter 1972
Mercury 1973
Saturn 1973
Uranus 1977
Neptune 1977
Pluto 2006

It's about time!

[Guest_PhilCo126_*]

Yes TomaB that's Dr Carolyn PORCO for sure:
http://ww.planetary.org/saturn/whoswho.htm
( By The Way where did You get that photo ... is it online ? )

I'm afraid ljk4-1 is right about the media ...

That Atlas V looks awesome !

Checking NASA TV footage right now
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

[Toma B]

Yes TomaB that's Dr Carolyn PORCO for sure:
( By The Way where did You get that photo ... is it online ? )

Yes it is...ups!!!
Here!!!
Meanwhile:
The first stage's bronze skin is icing over as the super-cold liquid oxygen continues to flow into the vehicle.
Rocket is turning white...see?

[ugordan]

No streaming allowed in the building, so it's text-based launch observing for me. I knew I should have marked that that time in Outlook as "unavailable". 

I can already imagine "This is Atlas launch con... BUFFERING... 1 0 liftoff... BUFFERING... first stage performance looks... BUFFERING... etc etc etc..."

[MahFL]

No streaming here either, just refreshing webcam pics.

http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countd.../video45lh.html

[odave]

Thanks for the link - better than nothing!

[Guest_PhilCo126_*]

Waiting for a Meteo report... At Minus 1 Hour ... there were some 35 knots winds ...

[Toma B]

T-1hour...
Looks sunny...

[Guest_PhilCo126_*]

Pitty Dr Clyde TOMBAUGH can't see this but I believe some of his family memebers are at the launch site
The launch vehicle is almost completely white but still winds over 33 knots ...
Watching it closely, the scheduled T-4 minutes hold will be a critical moment

[lyford]

For those "at work" or with video player issues, you may be able to run the Java based cam viewer at:
http://countdown.ksc.nasa.gov/elv/public/
You do need a Java capable browser...

Godspeed, New Horizons!

[MahFL]

Border line winds.

[MahFL]

Winds seems to be dropping bit

[Guest_PhilCo126_*]

Winds 25 knots ... gusts 33 knots
But there's an issue with a drain valve on a LOX tank

[Toma B]

Winds seems to be dropping  bit 

Is there a bit clearer picture...I can't see numbers...

[MahFL]

updated: 12:46 PM EST on January 17, 2006
Observed At: Titusville, Florida
Elevation: 33 ft / 10 m
[Mostly Cloudy]
75 °F / 24 °C
Mostly Cloudy
Wind: 13 mph / 20 km/h from the South
Wind Gust: 28 mph / 44 km/h

[ljk4-1]

NEWSALERT: Tuesday, January 17, 2005 @ 1658 GMT
---------------------------------------------------------------------

The latest news from Spaceflight Now


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


NEW HORIZONS READY TO GO
------------------------
A space probe tiny in size stands ready for blastoff today atop a massive
rocket from Cape Canaveral. It is bound for the outskirts of our solar
systems -- a journey stretching many years and billions of miles -- in
pursuit of exploration and discovery. Follow this historic launch of
NASA's New Horizons spacecraft aboard a Lockheed Martin Atlas 5 rocket in
our live status center:

http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av010/status.html

MISSION VIDEO COVERAGE:

http://www.spaceflightnowplus.com/index.ph...to+New+Horizons


ATLAS 5 ROCKET ROLLS TO PAD ON EVE OF LAUNCH
--------------------------------------------
A grand adventure to explore the outer frontier of the solar system was
moved to the launch pad Monday morning for the final day of preparations
leading to blastoff.

http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av010/060116rollout.html

IMAGES: MONDAY MORNING'S ROLLOUT
http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av010/0601...t/rollout1.html


FIRST MISSION TO 9TH PLANET
---------------------------
New Horizons was built to become the first robotic explorer to visit Pluto
and probe the Kuiper Belt in the outskirts of the planetary neighborhood.
Check out this highly-detailed five-part preview story examining NASA's
New Horizons mission.

http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av010/060114preview.html

[MahFL]

Didn't they have a similar problem with the MRO ?

[Toma B]

There was only ONE gust of wind greater than 33 knots...

[jamescanvin]

Who scheduled this for 5am?

I'm going to have to have words with Alan!

James :Yawn:

Couldn't miss this though!

[Guest_PhilCo126_*]

Still exciting though ... T-4 minutes ... built-in 2 minutes hold

[MahFL]

Engineers have determined the first stage liquid oxygen fill and drain valve issue is not a constraint. The issue is understood.

[Toma B]

Still exciting though ... T-4 minutes ... built-in 2 minutes hold 

It's actually 10 minute hold...

[Rakhir]

NEW LAUNCH TIME! Liftoff has being delayed to 1:45 p.m. EST due to gusty ground winds.

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av010/status.html

[MahFL]

NEW LAUNCH TIME! Liftoff has been delayed to 1:45 p.m. EST due to gusty ground winds. Also, the valve issue needs to be wrapped up

[Jeff7]

NEW LAUNCH TIME! Liftoff has being delayed to 1:45 p.m. EST due to gusty ground winds.

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av010/status.html

Geez. Place your bets if it'll actually launch today.